Light Heavyweights Nick Penner, Eddie Mendez Face Off Down Under at UFC on FX 6

Promotion officials announced the news late Thursday night,
revealing that Mendez will replace an injured Ednaldo
Oliveira. Though Krzysztof
Soszynski was initially announced as Oliveira’s opponent, it
now appears that “The Polish Experiment” has been replaced by
Penner, though no reason was given for the switch.

UFC on FX 6 takes place Dec. 15 at the Gold Coast Convention Centre
in Gold Coast, Australia. However, due to the time difference, the
event airs live on the FX network in the United States the evening
of Dec. 14. The show will be headlined by a clash of “Ultimate
Fighter: Australia vs. U.K.” coaches, as George
Sotiropoulos takes on Ross
Pearson at lightweight.

Penner, 32, saw an eight-fight winning streak snapped by veteran
grappler Anthony
Perosh in his Octagon debut, falling to “The Hippo” this past
March at UFC on FX 2. A former Maximum Fighting Championship and
King of the Cage talent, Penner has finished nine of his 11 career
victims, submitting five of his foes since turning pro in 2007.

Mendez has yet to taste defeat as he makes his
UFC foray, posting a career mark of 7-0-1 with one no-contest
since his 2008 debut. The Californian made a single appearance
under the Strikeforce banner last year, taking a split decision
from Fernando
Gonzalez in December. Most recently, Mendez outpointed Fabio
Nascimento at a May 5 Lights Out Productions event in
Inglewood, Calif.